Tubular body forming apparatus



Nov. 7, 1950 M. T. HOFFMAN ET AL TUBULAR BOYDY FORMING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1946 INVENTORS MAA/mp T HoFF/VA 1v JMW Tam/as 060m Ky TTOH/VEY Nov. 7, 1950 M. T. HOFFMAN ET AL 2,529,217

' TUBULAR BODY FORMING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1946 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MM/FRED 7T Huf /1AM f x/1v Tam 1s 0 cam /0 )5 any Nov. 7, 1950 M. T. HOFFMAN ETAL TUBULAR BODY FORMING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1946 EN TORS MANFRED T H -WWAA/ JoH/v 7mm 0cm);

/-? w mp ATTORNEY Nov. 7, I950 M. T. HOFFMAN ET AL TUBULAR BODY FORMING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1946 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1950 TUBULAR BODY FORMING APPARATUS Manfred T. Hofiman, Newburyport, Mass; and

John Thomas OConn'or, Plainfield', N. J., assignors to Merrimac HatCorporation, Amesbury, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 28, 1946, Serial No. 719,009

14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming tubular fibrous or felt bodies by winding a fibrous web upon a form. The invention particularly concerns apparatus for use in preparing tubular felt bodiesfor use in the manufacture of felt hats.

In the usual form of such apparatus, a web of carded wool fibers is wound upon a form in the shape of a pair of cones abutted at their large end, which form is continuously rotated to wind up the web by means of a bed of driven rollers on which it rests. The form is longer than the width of the web and is continually swung about a vertical axis causing the web to be traversed endwise of the form and to be wound spirally thereon. When the desired thickness of felt has been wound, the operator cuts the formed felt about the mid-portion of the form, separating the double ended, generally conical shaped felt body into two conical bodies which are removed by hand from the ends of the form without stopping the machine.

The carded fiber webs which are wound by these machines are not of uniform Weight and thickness, lengthwise or widthwise, but are subject to substantial variations in these respects. In consequence, if the cutting and removal of the formed felt bodies is effected at uniform intervals of winding time, the bodies vary widely and excessively in the weight of fiber which they contain. It has therefore been the practice for the machine operator to determine the time for cutting and removal of each body according to The operations are highly skilled and require the constant attendance of a skilled operator for each machine. In addition, with machines which do inot have automatic web-controlling apparatus and smooth it properly on the form.

The general object of this invention is to pro- Vide novel mechanism for Winding machines of the aforesaid general type by means of which the proper time for cutting each wound body is I automatically accurately determined and the ensuing cutting and removal operations are autohis judgment as to the amount of fiber that has been wound on the form. An experienced operator can usually produce in this way bodies which vary from one another in fiber weight not more than about 5 per cent which is an acceptable,

though by no means entirely satisfactory, figure.

There are other factors which have made the operation of the machines difiicult and exactive of a high degree of skill by the operator. The cutting apart of the two halves of the wound body has been effected by hand, either by a hand shearing operation or by manipulation of the improved hand-operated cutter disclosed in Corporon U. S. Patent No. 2,099,330, dated November 16, 1937. The cut halves of the body are removed from the opposite ends of the form successively, during the interval while the web is being wound on the opposite end, by hand lifting the end of the form to free the body from engagement with the underlying roller bed and quickly drawing the cut bodyendwise off the form.

matically performed, thereby eliminating the need for skilled operators for the machines, making it possible for a single operator without spe-' cial skill to supervise the operation of many machines and at the same time improving the quality and uniformity while reducing the cost of the product.

In pursuance of said general object, a special object is to provide novel detector means for determining accurately the amount or weight of carded fiber web that has been Wound on the form of such a winding machine and which is operative during the actual winding operation. Another special object is to provide an automatically operated cutter for severing the wound body on the form into two halves and means for automatically actuating said cutter means under the control of said detector means. Another such object is to provide means for automatically removing the cut halves of the wound body from the form and means for automatically operating said removing means in cooperation with said detector and said cutting means at the proper time following the cutting and while the winding machine remains in continuous operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing particular description thereof, in conjunction with the appended drawings i which show, in preferred form, the several novel mechanisms of the invention applied to a wool felt hat body winding machine of the type above referred to.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation view, partly in vertical section, of the form and operating supporting rollers thereof of the winding machine with detector, cutting and body removal mechanisms of the invention attached in operative relation 1 thereto;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation of a portion of the detector mechanism and of a part of the form and layer of felt on which it operates;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of one of the body removal mechanisms at a third position in its operating cycle, said view also showing portions of the supporting means and of the form;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section View on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail side elevation view of one of the gripper bars of the removal mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an electric circuit for controlling the interrelated automatic operation of the several mechanisms shown in the preceding figures.

The hat body winding machine to which the invention is shown applied in the accompanying drawings is of the so-called Zimmerman type disclosed in Eickemeyer U. S. Patent No. 212,910, dated March 4, 1879. As this machine is well known and fully shown and described in said Patent No. 212,910, only so much thereof is illustrated in the appended drawings as is needed to illustrate the application thereto and operation of the mechanisms of the invention to be hereinafter described. In brief, the machine includes a form having the double coneshape previously described and shown at A in the drawings hereof,

conical rollers, designated B herein, rotatably supported at one end on a swinging frame, designated C herein (see Fig. 4), which is pivoted 4 end of the form is moving from the position in which the longitudinal axis of the form is parallel to the Web source to the position of said end furthest removed from the source and returning, during which time the web is being wound on the opposite end of the form.

The means which this invention provides for mechanically and automatically performing these operations includes detector mechanism for automatically determining when the proper weight of felt has been wound on the form, cutter mechanism for severing the wound felt about the center of the form, body removal mechanism for pulling the two cut-apart bodies from the ends of the form and operating and control circuits by means of which the cutter and removal mechanisms are automatically operated at the proper times as determined by the detector mechanism. The preferred form of each of these mechanisms and circuits illustrated in the accompanying drawings .will now be particularly described.

Detector mechanism- Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 to 6, the swinging frame'C of the machine is provided above its point of pivotal connection to post D at the side upon a vertical axis between the base of the machine and the upper end of a forwardly curved post at the rear of the base, shown at D herein. The rollers B are continuously rotated in the direction to rotate the form A clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 hereof, and the frame C is continuously, reciprocally swung about its said pivot axis through an are somewhat less than 180 by suitable drive connections not shown herein.

The web W, usually coming directly from the carding machine which forms it, is supplied to the form from the front of the machine or to the left in Fig. 4, and is wound upon the form by the rotation of the latter. The reciprocal swinging of frame C turns the ends of the form alternately toward and away from the source of the web, causing the web to be wound in a spiral reciprocally from end to end of the form, with portions projecting over the ends of the form which are patted down to form the closed tip of the bodies. with automatic web-guiding and smoothing mechanism as disclosed in the above mentioned Patent 2,323,234, although that is not essential and is not shown in the drawings hereof.

When a sufiicient weight of felt has been wound on the form, the felt is out through around the center of the form and the twohalves are removed successively during the immediately following time intervals when the corresponding of form A away from the web source with a cross-bar It] to which are fixedly mounted two upstanding L-shaped brackets 12 the horizontal arms of which extend above the form A and support a bar I4 which extends approximately from end to end of the form and overlies its longitudinal axis. Fixed atregular spaced intervals to bar l4 are a plurality of depending arms l6 to each of which is fixedly mounted a rheostat I8, having a central rotatable shaft 20 carrying contact arm 22 which engages the resistance element 24. Fixed to the outer end of each shaft 20 is a detector member or feeler 26 having a bent stem 28 one end of which is attached to shaft 20 by lug 3i! and which projects laterally from which is supported on and rotated by a bed of said lug and then downwardly. A curved plate member 32 is attached by a pivot pin 34 to the lower end of stem 28 so that the plate is free to pivot about said pin as an axis. a

As particularly shown in Fig. 5, alternate feelers 26 project toward opposite sides of bar l4 and of the axis of form A. By virtue of their weight, they tend to rotate shafts 20 in the direction to lower the tip plate members 32 thereofupon the surface of the form A or of the layer of web W being wound thereon. These plates, upon contact with the form or felt thereon, tilt laterally on pins 34 so as to rest from end to end upon the longitudinally inclined undersurface of th form 3 and felt layer thereon, As indicatedin Fig. 5,

.. surface of the form so that the entire length'of Preferably, the machine is also provided felt on the form'is contacted by the feelers. The arrangement of the feelers alternately at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the form is desirable in maintaining a'balance of theweight-of the feelers 0n the form. l 1

By reason of their rounded construction, members 32 ride smoothly on the surface of the. felt web W as it winds onthe form. The feelers which project toward the web' source are located above the plane at which the web passes onto the form (see Fig. 4). As the web is Wound on the form, feelers 26, through web-contacting members 32, are raised in conformity with the increasing thickness of felt onjthe cone. This pivots shafts 2ll of'the rheostats H3 in the direction to move. contact;v arm 22 along resistance 24 toward the.

end. thereof connected to an electric circuit wire 36... This reduces the amount of'resistance in the circuit between said wire 36 and wire 38 connected to arm 22, andtherefor increases the amount of current permitted to pass throughsaid circuit. Wires 36 and 38 are all connected in series or in parallel, preferably in'par-allel, in one side of a closed circuit of an electrically operated switch (hereinafter more fullydescribed) of a type which is effective to close a controlled circuit, for operating the cutting and removal mechanisms of the machine, when the current flowing through its operating circuit reaches a certain predetermined value. Since the rheostats I8 are all connected in said operating circuit, the amount of current flowing therein will be governed by the total effect of all the resistance elements 24 included therein which, in turn, is governed by the extent to which each feeler is moved away from the surface of the form by the underlying thickness of .web wound thereon.

Thus the total amount of current flowing in the circuit which includes rheostats l8 affords, by the action of feelers 26, an accurate measure of the total thickness of web wound on the cone at all times, and said thickness, as determined by the feelers, affords a direct measure of total weight of wound fiber. The switch operated by this feeler controlled circuit can therefore be adjusted to operate when any predetermined weight of fiber has been wound on the form.

In order to facilitate the operation of the removal mechanism as hereinafter described, it is desirable that the feelers be removed from the surface of the wound felt while the removal mechanism is being operated. To this end there. is

provided a bar frame 46 (Figs. 4 to 6) which underlies the laterally projecting portions of feeler stems 28 and is supported by rods 42 extending loosely through tubes 44 provided in bar [4 and connected to the outer end of lever 46 which is pivoted at its opposite end on a sleeve 48 adjustably fixed to a vertical post 56 fixed to a plate 52 attached to cross-bar in (see Fig. 4). Lever 46 is pivoted to raise and lower its outer end and frame 40 suspended therefrom by means of a lever 54 attached thereto and connected by a link 56 to a portion of the cutter mechanism, to be hereinafter described, so that when the cutter is 'moved to its operative position of Fig. 4, lever 46" is pivoted counterclockwise to its upper position shown in said figure. This lifts frame 60 which engages feeler stems 2B and pivots the feelers so that their tip members 32 are moved away from the surface of the felt on the form, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 6;

Upon movement of the cutter to inoperative position, the revers movement of parts takes place so that the frame 40 is lowered permitting feelers 26 to pivot under their weight, so that their tip members 2 are brought into operative relation with the felt on the form, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 6. I

Cutter mechanism ehdSfiOf the cone. A metal groove 66 is provided in the surface of form A extending around the. mid-pointof its axis (see Figs. 1 and 5). When arm 60 is moved from its dotted line, inoperative position, to its. full line, operative. positio zasshown in Fig. 4, knife 6 1 is forced through-the. wound felt layer on formA and intothe groove;

66. Due to frictional engagement with the walls of the groove, knife 6 is rotated by the rotation of form A which causes the knife to cut through the felt overlying the groove, the out being complete upon a complete rotation ofthe form about. lhe construction of the cutter mecha-.

the operating connections for which (not shown) comprise ports in the motor cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, fluid-conducting hoses connected thereto and a..solenoid-actuated valve operative to connect these hoses alternately to a; source of fluid under pressure and a sump.

When this valve is operated to connect the port.

below the piston to pressure and the other port to sump, the piston and its shaft 76 are raised to upper position, pivoting lever 12 and cutter arm 66 to the operative position of the cutter shown in full lines in Fig. 4. Reversal of the connections of these ports, by means of the valve, causes reversal of movement of the parts to the inoperative position shown in dottedv lines in.

Fig. 4-.-

Link 56 of the feeler elevating mechanism previously described is connected to arm 60 of the cutter, so that movement of the cutter to operative position elevates the feelers to inoperative position, as previously described. The cutter motor actuating valve is operated by an electric circuit operated by the feeler circuit controlled switch, as will be hereinafter described.

Removal mechanism Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 and '7 to 9, there is attached to the swinging frame C of the machinev a sub-frame 86 which extends longitudinally of the form A at opposite sides of the form and beyond the ends thereof (Figs. 1 and '7), the side of said frame away from the Web source forming a continuation of cross-bar [0. The opposite ends of this frame, which project substantially beyond the ends of the form, support identical body removal mechanisms indicated generally by the reference numeral 82, each of which functions as hereinafter described to remove from the corresponding end of the form the corresponding half of the wound felt body on the form after the body has been cut in two by the cutter as previously described. Since these removal mechanisms are the same, a description of one will suffice, the same parts in both mechanisms being designated by the same reference numerals.

Rotatably mounted on the end of frame 80 is a rotatable turret 84 having fast thereon a gear 86 which is in driven engagement with ariage has fixed thereto a pair of upstanding,

longitudinally spaced brackets 96, 98 (Fig. .8)

the innermost ofwhich, 98, fixedly supports an annular guideway I on which is rotatably mounted a rin I02. Fixedly embedded at one end in the ring I02 at regularly spaced intervals and projecting therefrom at an outward incline.

half the length of the form A and collectively,.

when in their normal, straight condition, as in Figs. 7 and 8, form a .generally cone-shaped frame 1 similar to but of somewhat larger diameter than the cone-shaped end of the form A. Fingers I04 are provided in ring I02 for about 270 only of its circumference, leaving a gap in the frame formed by the fingers through which the hat bodies are ultimately discharged, as hereinafter explained. The inner surface of the fingers is roughened for gripping purposes as by transverse grooves, as shown in Fig. 9.

Slidably journaled through brackets 96, 98 to slide longitudinally of carriage 94 are two rods I06, the inner ends of which are fixed to the base of an upstanding rin I08 of circular cross-section which surrounds the fingers I04. Rods I06 have fixed thereto between brackets 96, 98 collars IIO. Coil springs I I2 surround rods I06 and bear at opposite ends against collars H0 and brackets 96. A latch member H4 is pivoted to bracket 98 below the base of ring I08 and is urged by a spring II6 to a position of locking engagement over the lower edge of the inner face of the base or ring I08, as shown in Fig. 8, when the ring I08 is retracted to its po-v sition adjacent bracket 98, as shown in said figure. In said position, ring I08 loosely surrounds fingers I04 and springs II2 are under compression. Upon release of latch II4, springs II2 cause rods I06 to slide inwardly carrying ring I08 away from bracket 98 and ring I02 along fingers I04 beyond a, point where the diameter of the ring I08 is smaller than that of the conical frame formed by the fingers. This causes the fingers to bow inwardly as indicated in Fig. 2.

Attached to one side of carriage 94 and extending outwardly therefrom along slideway 92 is a rack IIB which is engaged by pinion I20 on the shaft of a reversible electric motor I22 mounted on a support bar I24 fixed to the under side of the slideway (Fig. '7). By rotation of pinion I20 in one direction carriage 94 is moved to the inner end of slideway 92, its position in Figs. 1 (right-hand end), '7 and 8, while, by reverse rotation of pinion I20, carriage 94 is reversely moved to its retracted position of Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 (left-hand end).

Attached to the rear face of ring I02 and projecting outwardly of said ring is a cam roller I26 which cooperates, under certain circumstances, with a cam rail I28 located toward the outer end of slideway 92 and fixed thereto. Roller I 26 is located opposite the portion of ring I02 which is not provided with fingers I 04 (see Fig. 3).

The idle position of the removal mechanism 82 in which it remains between operations is that of the left-hand said mechanism shown in Fig. 1 wherein the turret mounted slide is disposed parallel to the axis of form A so that the frame formed by fingers I04 is substantially coaxial with the opposed end of the form, and spaced from said end. Carriage 94 is retracted to the outer end of slideway 92. Ring I08 is held re-' tractedadjacent ring I02 by latch member II 4.. The portion of ring I02 not provided with fingers I04 is located at the bottom (see Fig. 3). The mechanism is, of course, swinging in unison with the swinging frame C of which frame is a part. 1 To effect removal of a cut body b from the.

form, motor I22 is first operated in the direction to rotate pinion I20 to slide carriage 94, through rack II8, to the inner end of'the slideway, the position of the right-hand mechanism 82 in Fig. 1. The frame formed by fingers I04 is thereby projected coaxially over the end of form A substantially to the mid-point of the form, the feeler mechanism having been raised out of the way by operation of the cutter as previously described.- As the carriage 94 reaches the inner end of the slideway, a stop I30 provided on frame 80 engages a tail piece on latch member II4, pivoting the latch out of engagement with the base of ring I06 against spring II6 (see Fig. 1, right-hand mechanism). This releases ring I08 which is forced further inwardly, by springs II2 sliding rods I06 inwardly, into engagement with a second stop I32 attached to frame 80. Ring I08 is thus brought into binding engagement with the fingers I04 causing them, due to their resilience, to bend inwardly toward the axis of the form to bring their roughened inner surfaces into firm gripping engagement with the felt body b on the end of the form. This causes ring I02 to be rotated by the form in the same direction and at the same rate.

Motor I22 is now reversely operated, causing carriage 94 to slide back to-its initial position at the outer end of slideway 92, its position of Fig. 2. As it does so, ring I08 is held against stop I32 and projected away from ring I02 by the action of springs II4 until collars IIO on rods I06 engage bracket 98. This movement of ring I08 away from ring I02 produces further constrictive action on the fingers I04 which bend inwardly in proportion to the dimini'shingdiameter of the form end along which they are being drawn. The fingers are thus maintained in tight gripping engagement with the felt body and with the form and rotate therewith. Ring I08 is slightly eccentric to ring I02, as shown in Fig. 3, so that, as the fingers I04 are rotated below the axis of the form, they cause the form to tip about its mid-section sufficiently to lift its end portion engaged by the fingers out of binding engagement with drive rollers B. The body I) is drawn smoothly entirely off the form where it is held in the grip of the inwardly bent fingers I04 as shown in Fig. 2.

During this retractive movement of carriage 94, ring I02 is being rotated by form A in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1, moving cam roller I26 from its starting position above the axis of the ring downwardly at the side of the ring away from the web source and correspondingly moving the gap in the frame formed by fingers I04 upwardly at the side of the form A toward the web source. As the carriage 94 nears its outermost. position and the hat body is substantially com-v pletely drawn off the form, roller I26 strikes the lower end of cam rail I28 which acts on the roller to cause reverse rotation of ring I02 to its starting position during the remainder of the retrac--.

tive motion of the carriage 94. Although this.

returns the gap in the frame formed by the fingers I04 to a position below the axis of the frame, the inner end of the frame has been so contracted. by the action of ring I08 that the inner. end of the gap is too small to release the large diameter end of the hat body therethrough.

When the mechanism has reached the position of Fig. 2, motor 90 is operated" in the direction to turn turret 84, through pinion 88. and gear 86, so that the innerend of slideway 92 is turned away from the web source, as shown in Fig. '7, this movement beingilimited by engagement of a stop I36 on frame.80 with a portion of the under surface of the'turret. Motor I22 is then again operated to slide carriage 94 to the inner end of 'slideway 92, its position of Figs. '7 and 8. During :this movement of the carriage, ring I08 which has been held extended away from ring I02 by springs I'I-2 strikes a stop bar I38 projecting from frame '80 which causes ring I08 to be retracted by the further movement of the carriage, compressing springs II2, until it reaches its initial position, in which latch member H4 is automatically brought into latching engagement therewith under the action of spring I I6 (see Fig. 8). This retractive movement of ring I08 permits the frame formed by fingers I04 to'spring back to its. natural shape, enlarging the outer end of the gap in the under part thereof sufficiently to release the felt body b, which falls into a suitable receptacle indicated at I40 in Fig. 8.

. Upon release of the felt body, motor I22 is again reversed to return carriage 94 to the outer end of slideway'92 and motor 90 is operated to effect reverse rotation of turret 84 to its initial position as limited by engagement of a stop I42 on frame 80 with .a portion of the under part of the turret. The mechanism is now in its idle position shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1, ready for the start of another removal operation.

Control circuits I Thecomplete cycleof operation ofthe several mechanisms heretofore described is as follows:

When a predetermined weight of felt has been wound on the form, this being slightly less than twice the final desired weight of each half of the wound .felt, the, current flowing through the control circuit which includes rheostats I8 will,

due, to the regulati-ve operation of feelers 26,

reach the minimum value for which the main control switch; which that circuit controls, is set to operate. This control switch first causes operation: of the motor 68 of the cutter mechanism to move. the cutter into cutting position, this movement of the cutter also causing the feelers to be lifted away from the form.

Upon completion of the cutting, the removal mechanisms are operated successively, each during the interval'when its end of the cone is turned away from the web source and the web is beingwound upon the opposite end of the cone. Since operation of the cutter may take place while the swinging frame is at an point in its path of swing, means are provided iorselectively determining which of the two removal mechanisms shall be operated first according to the position of the form in its path of swing when a complete cutting of the wound felt has been effected. 'When the two removal mechanisms have been actuate'dthe cutter is returned to idle,raised position, which returns the feelers into operative relation with the new layer being wound'onthe cone. j

Fig. 10shows in diagram a suitable electric controlcircuit forobtaining the above described cycle of operation of'the'several mechanisms.

In FignlO, the two leads from a direct current powersourceare indicated at 200 and 20!. The

feeler rheostats I8 are connected into lead 200 (by wires 36, 38, as previously explained) either in series, or in parallel as shown in Fig. 10, and lead 200 is then connected, through a switch 202, to one side of a Thyratron 203 which is also connected to the other lead 20E through suitable resistance. Switch 202 is connected to the feeler mechanism so that it is closed when the feelers are in lowered, operative position, and opened when the feelers are in raised, inoperative position. When the current flowing through rheostats It reaches a predetermined value, corresponding to a certain weight of felt on the form A, as determined b the feelers, Thyratron 263 will close a circuit from lead 20I to lead .294 which extends to a mechanical switch 205 connected to the swinging frame of the machine so that it is closed while the frame is in a predetermined position, such as the mid-portion, of its arc of swing.

From switch 205 the current flows through lead 206, through the heater coil of a thermoacting timer relay 20'! and by lead 208 to lead 200. One of the thermo-operated contacts of timer relay 20'! is connected to lead 2% at the source side 'of rheostats I8 by a lead 2139 while its other contact is connected by lead 2H) with a solenoid 2| I which, when energized, moves the control valve 2I2 for cutter motor 68 to a position in which the motor operates to lower the cutter into operative position, and when deenergized returns the 'valve .to its position for reverse operation of'the'cutter motor. The other end of solenoid 2I I is connected by lead 2I3 to lead 20I.

ThusQwhen a predetermined weight. of felt has been wound on the form as signaled by the feelers, timer relay 201 will be operated as soon as'the swinging frame reaches its position in which switch205 is closed to move the cutter to operative position. The presence of switch'20'5 insures that the cutter will be operated at a pre determined position of the swinging frame. Operation of the cutter mechanically lifts the feelers out of engagement with the felt in preparation for removal of-the cu't bodies, as previously explained, opening switch 202 to cut Thyratr'on 203 out of circuit. Rela 201 is now in operation, however, connecting solenoid 2II into the circuit around the Thyratron switch and it is adjusted to remain in operation for a predetermined period sufficient to complete the opera tion of'the removal means, after which it automaticall opens.

Timer relay 201 is also connected by lead 2M and branch leads 2I5 and 2I6 with mechanical switches 2I'I and 2I8 arranged to be closed respectively when the swinging frame is at the opposite ends respectively of its path of swing. Switch 2H is connected by lead M9 to one end of the'heater coil of a thermo-operated relay 220, the opposite end of which is connected by lead 22I to leads 2I3 and 20I. One of the contacts of relay 220 is connected by lead 222 to lead 2M while the other is connected by lead 223 to one terminal of a stepping relay 224, the other ter- Fig. 10, and connected by indicated appropriate connections to the carriage motor I22 and the turret motor of the removal mechanism at' the end of theform A opposite the end c0rr'e-' spending to limit switch 2H.

-- parts to their normal idle position.

Switch No. I is connected to close a circuit whioh'operate's motor I22 to effect the sliding of carriage 9s tov the inner end of the slide 32 and engage the fingers llld' with the felt body. Switch No. 2 is connected to effect the reverse operation of motor "I22, returning carriage 94 to the outer end of slide 92 and withdrawing the body from the form.

Switch No. 3 is connected to operate turret motor 98 to rotate the slide to the position of Fig. '1. Switch No. 4 is connected to operate motor I22 to slide carriage 94 back to the inner end of slide 92 to efiect discharge'of the hat body. Switch No. 5 is connected to effect reverse operation of "motor-122, returning carriage 94 to retracted position.

Switch No. 6 is connected to reverse the operation of turret motor.90, returning the Relay 224 is operated and completes its operation during the interval when the end of the .form opposite switch 2|! is moved from about the mid-point of its path of swing to the end thereof away from the web source and back again, during which interval the web is being wound on the opposite end of'the form. After completing an operation, relay 224 stops between switches 6 and I,-as may be effected by adjustment of thermo-switch 220 to open after a time delay sufficient to complete one operation of relay 224.

- Switch 2E8 is connected to cause operation of the body removal mechanism at the opposite end moval mechanisms, timer relay 201 automatically "inventiom orinovelfeatures thereofl maybe usefully applied to winding and forming machines of different form from that herein selected to illustrate the" invention; We cl'aimf .12.". 'Q

1..In aitubulari bodyforming machine of the -.character described having means for winding a Web uponLa'form spirallyreciprocally from end to end of the form, the combinationof means for severing the wound webinto two parts'about the axisof the 'form and mechanical means for engaging andremovin'g. each" of said parts from :its' endl'of"the'formwhilethe web is being wound 'on'the oppositeend-of the form.

2. In a'tubularbody'for-ming machine of-th'e character described .havingmeans, for winding a web upon a form spirally reciprocallyfromend toen'd'of theform, the combination of'means for severing the iwoundweb into two parts about the axis of the form; means for removing each of said parts from. its end of the form while' the web is being wound on the' opposite end of the form .and'control'meansfor. gauging the amount of'web wound on'theform and for operating said removing means when said amount-reaches a predeterminedvalue, vr

3. In a tubular body forming machine ofthe character described having means for winding a web upon. a form cspirally reciprocally from. end to end of the form, the combination of means for severing the "woundilweb into two parts about the axis of the form and control means for gauging the amount of webwound on'the form and for operatingsaidsevering means when said amount reaches" a predetermined value.

In a tubularzbody forming machine of the character described having means for winding a web upon a form spirallyreciprocally from end opens, breaking the circuits to the removal 'mechanism controls and to the cutter motor solenoid. This causes reverse movement of the cutter to inoperative position and return of the feelers to their operative positions upon the new layer of felt being wound On the form, switch 202 being thus closed to re-establish the feeler controlled circuit to the Thyratron switch 203. I By adjusting the feelercontrolled rheostats 18 to make the circuit through Thyratron 203 when the weight of fiber on the form, as'measured by the feelers, is equal to the desired weight minus the weight which will be added by continued winding during the ensuing time interval required for cutting and removal, the weight of the finished, removed bodies is maintained uniform and at the desired value.

While the greatest benefit is obtained from utilizing all the mechanisms which the invention provides, thus rendering the machine fully automatic, this is not essential. Thus, while it is better to operate the cutter only at the time determined, for removal of the bodies, the cutter can be allowed to remain in cutting position at all times. If this is done, the feeler weight control would govern only the operation of the-removal means. Furthermore, the knife-actuating and removal mechanisms have advantages over'the prior corresponding hand operations even without automatic weight control such as furnished by the feeler mechanism.

It will be understood that we have described and illustrated hereinonly preferred embodiments of the several mechanisms of the invention and suitable control circuits therefor and that these may to end of the form, the combination of means for severing the wound web into two parts about the axis of the form, means for removing each of said parts fromits end of the form while the web is being wound on the opposite end of the form and control means for gauging the amount of web wound on the form and for'operating said severing and removing means when said amount reaches described herein. Also, the mechanisms of the a predetermined value.

5. In a tubular body forming machine of the character described having means for winding a web upon a form spirally reciprocally from end to end of the form, the combination of cutter means arranged for severing the wound web about the axis of the form and means for moving said cutter means to and from an operative position with respect to the wound web including feeler means engageable with the wound web on the form to gauge the thickness thereof and to cause movement of said cutter means to operative position when a predetermined thickness of web has been wound on the form.

6. Ina tubular body forming machine of the character describedhaving means for winding a web upon a form, means for removing the wound web from the form comprising grappler means engageablewith the outer surface of the wound web about the axis of the form and grappler operating means for projecting said grappler means into engagement with the wound web and then to '7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 which in-' cludes feeler means engaging the surface of the wound web on the form to gauge the thickness thereof and connected to the grappler operating.

' 13 means to cause operation thereof when said wound web reaches a predetermined thickness.

8. In a tubular body forming machine of the character described having means for winding a web upon a conical form, means for removing the wound web from the form comprising a generally conical grappler frame, means for project ing said frame over the small end of said form to engage the surface of said found web about the axis Of the form and for withdrawing said frame endwise from the form and means acting on said frame during withdrawal movement thereof to progressively contract the large end of the frame as it moves toward the small end of the form in conformity with the diminishing diameter of the form.

9. In a tubular body forming machine of the character described having means for winding a web upon a form spirally reciprocally from end to end of the form, the combination of feeler means engageable with the outer surface of the wound web on the form to gauge the thickness thereof, cutter means for severing the wound web into two parts about the axis of the form, means for removing each of said parts from its end of the form while the web is being wound on the opposite end of the form, and means connecting said gauge means to said removing means to cause actuation of said removing means when said wound web reaches a predetermined thickness.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes means for moving said cutter means to and from a position of cutting engagement with the wound web and means operatively connecting said feeler means to said cutter moving means to cause actuation thereof to move said cutter means to said position in advance of actuation of said removing means.

11. In a tubular body forming machine of the character described having means for winding a web upon a form spirally reciprocally from end to end of the form, the combination of feeler means engageable with the outer surface of the web on the form to gauge the thickness thereof, means for moving said feeler means to and from a position of engagement with the web, cutter means for severing the wound web into two parts about the axis of the form, means for removing each of said parts from its end of the form while the web is being wound on the opposite end of the form, and means operatively connecting said feeler means to said moving means therefor and to said removing means to cause actuation thereof to move said feeler means away from the weband then to remove said web-parts when said wound web reaches a predetermined thickness.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 which includes means for moving said cutter means to and from a position of cutting engagement with the wound web and means operatively connecting said feeler means to said cutter moving means to cause actuation thereof to move said cutter means to said position in advance of actuation of said removing means.

13. In a tubular body forming machine having means for winding a web upon a form spirally reciprocally from end to end of the form, the combination of means for removing the wound web from the form and feeler means engageable with the outer surface of the wound web to gauge the thickness thereof and connected to cause actuation of said removing means when said thickness reaches a predetermined value.

, 14. In a tubular body forming machine having means for winding a web upon a form, the combination of means for removing the wound web from the form, feeler means engageable with the outer surface of the wound web to gauge the thickness thereof, means for moving said feeler means to and from a position of engagement with the web, and means operatively connecting said feeler means to said moving means and removing means to cause actuation thereof to move said feeler means away from said position and then to remove said wound web from the form when said thickness reaches a predetermined value.

MANFRED T. HOFFMAN.

JOHN THOMAS OCONNOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,700 Waring Jan. 3, 1871 344,589 Messer et al. June 29, 1886 2,237,071 Fraser Apr. 1, 1941 

